By Kunle SHONUGA
The Association of South-East Town Unions (ASETU) has endorsed the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 Presidential poll.
The endorsement was contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday in Enugu at the end of an extraordinary expanded meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC).
The meeting held at ASETU Secretariat in Enugu on Jan. 27 produced a three-page document signed by eight NEC executives of the association.
The group agreed that in line with the association’s natural disposition for self-survival, it would continue to support those who mean well for the South-East and Nigeria at large.
“That the wide acceptance of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi combination, a detribalised team, committed to the unity, peace and progress of the country by the people of South-East at home and abroad for the Feb. 16 election is hereby endorsed by the town unions.
“This is in alignment with the earlier position of Ohaneze Ndigbo and in completeness of the Igbo man’s grassroots oriented and egalitarian nature.
“That our position is predicated on our conviction by the consistent promise of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to `restructure’ the country for the good of all Nigerians
“We are further motivated by the meritorious choice of an illustrious and credible Igbo son, Mr Peter Obi as the Vice Presidential Candidate, a position that has been denied the Igbo Nation for over 40 years.
“That as custodians of the grassroots, the town unions shall rise up in defence of the wishes of the majority of our people and stoutly resist any attempt by a few discredited individuals and political merchants who are attempting to trade off the South-East for their personal pecuniary interests,” it disclosed.
They urged Ndi Igbo to take their destinies in their hands by trooping out to vote for the Atiku/Obi ticket in all their places of residence across the country.
The group decried the marginalisation of Ndi Igbo evidenced in the complete exclusion of the zone in appointments to critical positions of authority such as the National Security Council.
“On Federal projects, we also note that there is a grand design to totally cut off the South-East in the ongoing Rail projects of the present government.”
The communique was jointly signed by its National President, Chief Emeka Diwe; National Secretary, Mr Gideon Adikwuru and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr I.I. Onwubuya.
Other signatories are Chief Paully Eze, Chairman, President-Generals of Enugu State; Chief G.U. Mgborukwe, Chairman, President-Generals of Abia State and Chief Ugochukwu Akpa, Chairman, President-Generals of Ebonyi State.
Others are Chief Jimie Asoegwu, Chairman, President-Generals of Anambra State and Chief Monday Ikokwu, Secretary-General of President-Generals in Imo State.——NAN
